Salgado should, he deserves it. As for Guti... ******** Guti. I think we should let alot of the young bench players play in this one, if we can, see what they're made of against a strong, competitive La Liga side, and that might help us decide who to keep around/give chances to during competitive matches. Surely, won't tell us everything, but it will be a test, and valuable experience in a unusually pressure-free game. I don't really care if we get embarrassed again, I'm used to it now, and it's not like we can trust our starters not to embarrass us, they're the ones that played the last two games. I'd rather give players I haven't seen play much get a run out, like Parejo, and give players like Drenthe, Marcelo and Klass some time out with the first team. What've we got to lose? our dignity is already out the window this season...
eh? Guti deserves some (or a lot of) recognition for what he has done for the club so far.He could have done more, maybe, but he still gave all he had, the good and the bad to this club.
Well, he must've done some very notable things before the 2004 season (when I first got goltv and was able to watch Real Madrid's La Liga matches), because, from what I've seen from him since, he has been less than impressive/important to our side's sporting success. And it would seem increasingly so every season I've been watching. Perhaps, I need a bit of a history lesson?
Now some posters will label you as a Guti lover I guess the majority of people here started to watch Real only in 2004 (at least Nino had cojones to admit it) but they are quick to jump to conclusions when it comes to some players who have been with the team long before they even became madridistas...
If Raul Bravo and Reyes got recognized when they played at the Bernabeu, then I would expect Guti to get some recognition as well. Maybe not as spectacular as Zidane's or Redondo's who gave their hearts for Madrid and were extremely talented, but a recognition for the 14 (not sure exactly) years he spent in Madrid.
Was it before 2004? If not, then maybe that happened before I was a canny enough fan to notice. I mean, I've seen him give his fair share of incredible threaded/defense splitting passes over the years. On his day, I think he may be the best pure passer of the ball in the world, even currently. But, as I've said a hundred times, "on his day" happens once out of every 7-10 games, it seems to me, and usually against weaker competition/unimportant games. If this is directed towards me concerning Guti, all I have to say is, how much good can be said about a player who hasn't impressed on a remotely consistent basis in the last 5 seasons? Really, how important is he to us? Just because he's Spanish and was around for the glory years, and then he's MIA for 5 seasons, doesn't make him deserve a great sending out, IMO. I think he deserves a testimonial, I suppose, but my point about what I said a couple posts ago is: I couldn't give a shit what we do with Guti, as long as he stops taking up a perfectly good spot on the bench, and certainly doesn't start for us anymore. If we don't give him a proper sending off, it won't hurt my feelings. I agree that he should get a testimonial or some dedication, but he sure as hell won't be missed by me.
I was just joking about Guti not wanting to come on the pitch becaus eof an incident earlier in the season and it is just so Guti like. -"Hey, Guti were having a testimonial for you today" -"Thats great thanks but I going in for a pedicure and wax so I won't be fit to play." Guti is one of my favorite players. I can remember when we could bring him in as a Striker or SS or LM or AM or CM or DM he could do it all. Good shot, great passer, slide tackles, positioning. Unfortunately he never had a true position and this hindered his progress IMO. Anyway his time is up he should either leave to someplace where he will play or retire. Ditto Salgado. I think the club owes neither one more than that last run on the pitch in front of their fans.
I think you're wrong here. Guti's two best seasons were arguably last one, in which he was arguably the best midfielder in La Liga, and IIRC 2004-2005, in which he played defensive mid for most of the year and had a decent run in the NT for the only time in his career. The problem with Guti is that it's always too little too late. You can't establish yourself with the NT at 29, and you can't have your best season in your thirties. Guti could've been one of the best players in the world and he took the easy way out. That's mostly his problem, so it'll be that has to live with it. That said, the words "testimonial game" are uttered way too freely. These should be reserved for very special cases of charity and to remember old legends, but years after they retire.
Embarrassingly, then, his contributions have escaped my attention. He very rarely impressed me, though, but perhaps it was because I have neglected the subtleties of his craft. Good thing I joined this forum a year ago so you more experienced posters can set me straight. With that said, he did have a shit time this season, did he not? Or did I miss the boat on that one too? As for "testimonials", I didn't realize that it was only reserved for bonafied legends, I thought they were given as a tribute to a long-time servant of the club. I defer to your take on it, Laudrup, for obvious reasons. And, you don't have to twist my arm about not having one for Guti (if, indeed that was what you were implying), considering my feelings towards the fella.
IMO, I reckon Guti's best season was the 2000/01 campaign, where he scored 14 goals in the league (we won it that season) and 4 in the CL. That goal he scored v Villarreal in La Liga that season was truly memorable.
was it the one from Carlos's Lob and he volleyed it outside the box? yep that was one of Guti's best season, damn, missin the ol days
Well he was injured alot this season so i don't think you can put it that way. I also think that lots of signing in his position have hurt his career. Many can argue that he didn't fight for his spot but how can you fight for a spot where a "galactico" plays...
No doubt, every position Guti has played we have always had better players Ronaldo, Zidane etc. Having said that he's done his bit for the club and deserves a suitable send off at the Bernabeu, that is if he is even going. I have a feeling he may not go out as gracely as we would all like, and may have to be pushed before he would jump... Anyway back on topic I agree we need to give Parejo some minutes, same with Drenthe.
Players called up: Goalkeepers : Casillas, Dudek Defenders : Ramos, Torres, Cannavaro, Heinze, Agus Midfielders: Robben, Lass, Van de Vaart, Parejo, Faubert, Drenthe, Javi Garcia Forwards: Raul, Higuain, Huntelaar, Saviola
Probable formation : 4 -3 -3 Casillias Torres Ramos Cannavaro Heinze Lass VDV Robben Huntelaar Raul Higuain
4-3-3?? Why would we play that when we can play a 4-4-2 with players playing out of position. Robben on the left. Higuain on the right. Raul and hunty up top (which will end up being raul in the midfield with lassana and hunty just roaming around doing nothing). Throw rafa in there somewhere and voila. We'll take it up the ass again.
Who would partner Lass in a 4-4-2? Javi Garcia ? I think after last game it is fair to say he won't be starting any more games.